HELP FOR EVERYONE IN TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES
Posted by Dawn Primarolo, MP for Bristol South, at 16:49, Tue 2 December 2008:
Here’s the latest edition of my regular newsletter. If you would prefer not to receive it in future, please email me at primarolod@parliament.uk and I’ll remove you from my mailing list.
HELP FOR EVERYONE IN TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES
The Chancellor has announced a range of measures to help individuals and businesses deal with the global economic down-turn. It is absolutely vital that we continue to take action to protect people’s jobs, homes and savings. Doing nothing is simply not an option for the Government. I have set out the most significant measures below, but do let me know if you would like any further information.
The Pre Budget Report helps get the economy moving, thanks to a temporary cut in the level of VAT to 15 per cent. The Government is also bringing forward £3 billion of public spending, which will create jobs, especially in the construction industry, and get important projects off the ground. There’s also help for people on modest and middle incomes. All basic rate tax payers will receive a continuing tax cut of £145 a year. Child Tax Credit will increase next April, while a planned increase in Child Benefit has been bought forward by three months to January. Pensioners will benefit too, with an additional £60 payment made to every pensioner in the new year. This is on top of rises to the state pension and pension credit, designed to help the poorest pensioners as well as those with modest savings. For business, the Government is deferring a planned increase in Corporation Tax for small companies, as well as allowing businesses in financial difficulties to pay their tax bills on a timetable they can afford.
EXTRA FUNDING FOR HEALTH IN POORER AREAS
As Public Health Minister, I was very pleased to be able to announce funding of £13.5 million to help tackle poor health in some of the most deprived areas of the country. Amongst other things, this funding will help to support community projects which are working hard to tackle problems like obesity and smoking. Addressing issues like these are central to reducing health inequalities. The Government has worked hard over the last eleven years to help narrow the gap between lack of wealth and poor health. Of course, we know that there is still much more work to do, but I am confident that this extra funding is a real step in the right direction.
MEETING WITH FIRST BUS MANAGER
On Friday I met again with First Bus Manager Director, Justin Davies, for an update on Bristol’s bus services. He confirmed that routes in south Bristol (service no.s 1, 54, 76 & 77) are benefiting from a new fleet of state-of-the art double decker buses. He also advised me that, following public consultation, it had been decided not to split the 75, 75a, 76, 77 routes in the city centre, but to keep a ‘through-route’ to north Bristol with simpler routes and extra buses and drivers to improve reliability. We also spoke about the removal of the 89 service in Knowle West in August which has proved unpopular with local residents. Mr Davies has promised to look into this matter for me. I raised the importance of keeping fares as low as possible, especially during these difficult economic times. First has raised fares twice this year, blaming higher global oil prices. Oil prices are tumbling now – down from $114 a barrel when First announced their latest fare hike, to around $54 a barrel now. These stark figures show that it’s time for First to act, and I will be keeping up the pressure on them to do so.
HELPING TO MAKE REPOSSESSIONS A LAST RESORT
The Government is taking action to protect families from repossession, including a new court protocol, which came into force recently, to encourage lenders to explore all avenues before making a claim in the courts. We want to make sure that lenders are doing everything they can to help families facing difficulties, and they will now be expected to demonstrate that they have tried to discuss and agree alternatives to repossession when borrowers get into trouble with their mortgage repayments. Lenders should be working with borrowers, for example to offer repayment holidays, and trying to avoid the traumatic impact of repossession. These new measures are in addition to the £200 million mortgage rescue scheme introduced by the Government in September to help the most vulnerable people, and provide more free legal representation in county courts and more free debt advice.
ASHTON VALE BRT AND SOUTH BRISTOL LINK CONSULTATIONS
The West of England Partnership (made up of the four local authorities in the former Avon area) has been consulting with local residents about two new transport schemes, both of which affect us in Bristol South. The first of these is a proposal to run a bus rapid transit (BRT) route between Ashton Vale and Temple Meads via the City Centre. It is proposed that the rapid transit vehicles, which have the feel of a tram but with the flexibility of a bus, will help reduce congestion by offering an alternative for car users. The second scheme under consultation is for a ‘South Bristol Link’ between the A370 Long Ashton Bypass and the Hartcliffe roundabout. These plans are at an earlier stage and various options are being explored. More information is available to download from the West of England Partnership website: www.westofengland.org/transport or please contact my constituency office. The Ashton Vale to Temple Meads BRT consultation closed yesterday but the South Bristol Link consultation is open until 30 January 2009.
TACKLING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Last Tuesday was the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and I’m pleased that the latest statistics show more offenders are being brought to justice in relation to domestic violence and rape. Between 1997 and 2007/08 there has been a 58% fall in the number of domestic violence incidents according to the British Crime Survey (BCS). The BCS records people’s personal experiences of crime, including those which are not reported to the police. In 2003, only 46% of domestic violence cases brought to court resulted in a conviction but now that's 72% (July-September 2008). Fewer crimes of domestic violence and more convictions is the trend we want to see continue. In 1997, 517 rapists were convicted. The latest figures (for 2006) show that 754 men were convicted of rape which is an increase in rape convictions of 45.84%. We have improved how the Criminal Justice System responds to victims so that they have more confidence to report rape and go through with prosecutions. But we are by no means complacent - we know there is a still a long way to go and we need to increase the conviction rate further. Rape and domestic violence still cause untold suffering for thousands of women and we will continue our efforts to tackle these crimes.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATE
I know that many residents of Bristol South share an interest in international issues, and I wanted to give you an update on three areas of the world, and what the Government is doing to try to bring peace and stability.
First, I am sure that everyone will have been moved by the terrible events in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes in the wake of fierce fighting, and the humanitarian situation is getting worse by the day. The British Government has provided £42 million of humanitarian assistance to the DRC this year. This includes £2 million on food aid – enough to provide food for 500,000 people for two weeks. Other supplies including sheeting, blankets and water purification tablets. What is needed now are global efforts to help try to restore peace to this troubled country.
Secondly, we are now beginning to assess the results of the terrorist atrocities in India last week. Nearly 200 people were killed in an orchestrated series of attacks in Mumbai. The Foreign Office is advising against travel to Mumbai, and some other parts of India. For more information, visit their website – www.fco.gov.uk/.
Finally, in over twenty years as an MP, many hundreds of Bristol South residents have contacted me about the quest for peace in the middle-east. The vast majority of constituents have told me that they want a two-state solution, with a secure Israel, and a viable and prosperous Palestinian state. This is a view that I, and the whole Government, share. Of course, reaching such a solution is a highly complex matter, but I was pleased to see Foreign Secretary David Miliband’s recent contribution to the debate. David spoke of the need for an independent Palestinian state, but also of the need for all countries in the middle-east to work together to achieve a peaceful settlement for the whole region. The British Government remains committed to the Palestinian people, and has promised £243million in aid in the next three years. This will help to alleviate some of the most pressing and chronic problems, but we must continue to search for a lasting peace.
ANY QUESTIONS?
If you have any queries about these issues, or have a question you would like to ask about anything else, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Email me at primarolod@parliament.uk, phone 0117 909 0063 or write to me at PO Box 1002, Bristol, BS99 1WH. Alternatively, for more information on what’s happening in and around Bristol South, you can visit www.bristolsouthlabourparty.org.uk.
Comments
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Posted by Steve Knowlson, 22:21, Wed 7 January 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #
Thank you for your newsletter.
I've a number of comments all revolving around public transport in Bristol.
"It is proposed that the rapid transit vehicles, which have the feel of a tram but with the flexibility of a bus, will help reduce congestion by offering an alternative for car users."
Oh dear Dawn. It appears that you've swallowed First's PR nonsense about "Rapid Transit". I've actually ridden on one of these BRT vehicles in York a couple of years ago and believe me, they most certainly don't have the "feel of a tram". They "feel" like a diesel bus adorned with some bodykit - which is exactly what they are.
Yet again Bristol is being short changed in the public transport stakes. Whilst other cities get upgrades to their tram networks (Nottingham, Manchester) and rail services or electric trolleybuses (Leeds), Bristol gets more dreadful buses run by the execrable First. Bristol has had next to no investment in its transport infrastructure under this Labour administration and the previous Tory one, and now all that's offered is more lamentable First buses, but with a bit of bodykit.
It's just not good enough. People will not leave their cars at home if the only alternative is First's buses. Bristol needs, and deserves, a tram system integrated with upgrades to our urban rail network, which involves opening the line to Portishead and opening the Henbury Loop to passenger trains. Yes, it might cost a bit more to set up, but God knows we've waited long enough for anything approaching a decent, integrated, affordable transit system.
BRT might be cheaper than a tram initially, but running costs are higher, it's far less environmentally friendly and will not achieve the "modal shift" from the motor car so desired by the DfT and Bristol City Council.
It would be nice if some of the £3 billion in public spending you mention is pushed in the direction of Bristol's public transport infrastructure.
You say that you are pressurising First to reduce their exorbitant fares. When they introduced BRT in York they upped the fares by an eye-watering 20% in one go - if they did this in York I shudder to think what they'll do in Bristol. First are probably the most rapacious of all the private transport operators providing "public transport" in Britain - they are charging some of the most expensive fares in the country in Bristol (for a very poor service) and it seems that you and your colleagues are utterly powerless to stop them. Until we have proper regulation of fares and services and an end to their monopoly in our city, public transport will never improve.
As a local politician it is incumbent on you to do something to remedy this situation and I don't see any action, apart for some futile entreaties to Justin Davies.
I'm very disappointed.
Posted by Patrick Hulme, 13:58, Sat 17 January 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #
I absolutely agree with Steve Knowlson, that Bristol's performance in connection with public transport is absolutely abysmal, with none of the 3 major Westminster parties able to give us much hope. The Labour Party,who have been in power in Bristol for much of the time over the last 10 years and our local Labour MP's have not been able to exercise much clout with the national government, with cities in the north fairing much better. I can only assume the the citizens of Bristol are not considered important enough to warrant a proper public transport system. I was lucky enough to visit Bordeaux last Autumn to see their tram system. I recommend that our politicians visit to see what can be achieved by active politicians. The Labour Party has also failed to challenge the monopoly that the First Group has over the region. While billions can be found for profligate banks and their nationalisation, they have failed to get to grips with controlling these monopolies. In conclusion, I tend to judge a political party on whether it can get things done. The failure of the labour administration in being able to build 2 1/2 miles of railway track to link Portishead to Bristol speaks volumes for their inaction.
Posted by Steve Knowlson, 19:18, Sun 18 January 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #
Patrick,
You're spot on with your comments. Since the "brave new world" of the Transport White Paper back in 1997 and John Prescott promising us a sustainable public transport network, accessible and affordable for all, virtually nothing has happened, especially in Bristol.
Transport must be one of Labour's greatest failures, in Bristol this failure is felt even more keenly. At least Manchester, Nottingham, Tyne and Wear and Sheffield have benefitted from tram systems, here in Bristol all we've seen in an escalation in bus fares, erosion of routes and subsequent decline in public transport patronage. And the Government exhort us to leave our cars at home!
I too have ridden on Bordeaux's excellent tram system. The reason that we have been left so far behind our twin cities such as Bordeaux, Hannover and Porto is threefold:
1, They have politicians that understand the importance of good public transport and the benefits to their economies, air quality, congestion and general quality of life that it can bring.
2, Their politicians are not in thrall to powerful vested interests such as First Group. Unbelievably, First's boss, Moir Lockhead was recently given a knighthood by the Government. What for? Surely not services to transport - more likely for services to the Labour Party's coffers!
3, It is far easier and cheaper to deliver public transport infrastructure on the Continent than in Britain. The Government has created an incredibly complex structure for the planning, design and delivery of public transport, one that is so unwieldy that it's practically unworkable. This multi-layered, multiple agency, part public, part private hotch potch of a system is great if you're a pencil pushing transport planner or consultant in need of employment, but absolutely useless for delivering real improvements on the ground.
For a city the size of Bristol, and its laughable alleged Green credentials, our public transport remains a disgrace. Now we have the Government and local Councils attempting to bribe us with our own money by saying that we can only have improved public transport if we accept Congestion Charging. Making public transport improvements dependent on Congestion Charging is quite simply blackmail.
By all means introduce Congestion Charging, but first we must have a fully integrated tram and rail based transport system with regulated fares. Anything else, especially more First buses - this time with added bodykit, is completely unnacceptable and will be roundly rejected at the ballot box.